Colorado Avalanche Pluses and Minuses Entering 2012-13 Season

Ask this question: "How good is the Avalanche, and how good can it become?" Then opinions will fan out like two hands opening a broadsheet newspaper. Some see a team with the NHL's rookie of the year and new captain, Gabriel Landeskog, and other quality youngsters and say, "This team is primed for good times." Others see a team with a mediocre defense and an unproven goalie and say, "How is this team different from the one that hasn't made the playoffs two years in a row?" In a lockout-shortened, 48-game season, we won't have to wait long to find out which team the Avalanche has. There are reasons to believe the Avs can be a playoff team again this spring and reasons that maybe they won't.